Il signore delle formiche

The issue at the center of this movie is timely and direction Gianni Amelio courageously took on the responsability to tell the story of a man who was, on one hand, unjustly persecuted and, on the other, extremely unlikable. In this regard, the film was successful, with a good performance from lead actor Luigi Lo Cascio.

Elio Germano, who played Ennio Scribani, the journalist who decided to tell Braibanti's story, was very realistic, in this relatively limited role. Leonardo Maltese, who portrayed Braibanti's lover Ettore Tagliaferri, was unexpectedly capable in his acting debut.

On the whole, though, the movie suffers from a mediocre supporting cast, who seem uncomfortable in their roles and don't show emotion in a relatable way.

My main issue with the film, nevertheless, is the extremely unnatural screenplay, which showcases how perfect is the enemy of good. References to Hamlet, Socrates, Leopardi and Nietzsche or sentences full of metaphors might be apt for Braibanti's character, but the style of the dialogue between other characters is not too different leading to the viewer being left with a decently-crafted story, but very little emotional involvement.